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Greenhouse - Goodbye Old Friend, Hello New

Discussion in 'Garden Projects and DIY' started by shiney, Oct 25, 2025.

  1. ViewAhead

    ViewAhead Total Gardener

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    :loll:
     
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    • hailbopp

      hailbopp Keen Gardener

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      Looking at the bigger photo, would it might be an idea rather than creating a slope directly into the green house, instead you laid another row of thin slabs past the front of the greenhouse like the one north west of the cat after taking out a row of plants. Maybe a snag with the shrub? It would not make the widest path but might be wide enough? If you don’t take wheelbarrows into the greenhouse then it is not so important to be able to go through the door straight if this makes sense. Might be a rubbish idea but looks a possibility from where I am sitting!
       
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      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        I'm think of doing that but making the low step all the way across the front of the greenhouse Where we should be able to walk across it from either end or from the front. Simon will be here on Monday and all of us can discuss it.

        It also depends on whether the remaining ballast, sand and cement is sufficient. There are some other small jobs, cement and paving, to be done.

        upload_2026-1-30_16-35-38.jpeg
         
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          Small up date:-

          I bought some heavy duty plastic to put on the benching before placing capillary matting on it. Got the roll of matting out of the loft after it sitting there 50 years since we used it in the previous greenhouse - found buying a whole roll cheaper than part of a roll. :scratch:

          Cutting the plastic was relatively easy but cutting the matting a pain. I thought it would be easy with a Stanley knife but it was resistant to that. Fibres were difficult to cut through and clogging/sticking to the blade. So I used scissors. That was difficult for me, not the scissors, as I have arthritis in my thumbs but got it done eventually.

          upload_2026-2-9_18-41-4.jpeg

          The lump of wood at the end is to stop the end of the matting curling up. Of course, when the matting is wet and plants on it then the curling up will stop.

          By the time I had done some other things in the garden I didn't get around to bringing the plants back in. Some had died, and some need repotting and roots trimmed off the bottom of the pots - Mrs Shiney's job. all that I managed:- :heehee:

          upload_2026-2-9_18-46-8.jpeg

          The box at the end is our large propagator and will go on the benching at the end. It was too heavy for us to try and lift so Simon will do it when he is along next. Then the sand and gravel needs to be put in and hopefully will dry out a little whilst waiting to get the electrics run and fitted.

          The box standing outside the greenhouse at the back is our smaller propagator that I'm not sure we shall install.

          We're still waiting for the step across the front of the greenhouse to be built and other concreting and paving jobs.
           
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          • CanadianLori

            CanadianLori Total Gardener

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            Wow, that is a lot of staging. And a long piece of felt. I rolled out my teensy piece of felt in my cellar grow house and recall that yes, if I didn't have my big fabric sheers, it would have been a nasty job.

            Capillary watering - I'm going to experiment with combining an autopot system coupled with my capillary matting. My area is a lot smaller but automatically "dispensing" water from a multi gallon container seems to be a goal so if it works, I'll share that with you? Auto pots are expensive but if my made up system works, I'll only need the one for the greenhouse. :)
             
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            • CanadianLori

              CanadianLori Total Gardener

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              Oh, and I like your kneeler. Those look like a dandy help!
               
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              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                We stopped using a watering system as we have extremely hard water here and it used to fur up the tubes pretty quickly. There was so much to do that it had to be fixed to the mains water as it was also used for the big pots and things like tomatoes that were on the other side of the greenhouse.
                 
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                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  Yes, its a reversing one. Used as a seat when it is the way up in the picture and for kneeling when inverted. The metal sides are then arms to help you lift yourself up.
                   
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                  • Busy-Lizzie

                    Busy-Lizzie Total Gardener

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                    It looks magnificent!

                    I have been quite excited because I've just ordered a greenhouse 2m x 2.5m! Anything bigger than that in France will mean extra tax and declaring it to the Mayor. It will do for my simple needs.

                    I hope you have lots of fun with yours.
                     
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                    • ViewAhead

                      ViewAhead Total Gardener

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                      Could you have a whole row of little ones without the Mayor's approval, @Busy-Lizzie? :biggrin:
                       
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                      • Busy-Lizzie

                        Busy-Lizzie Total Gardener

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                        I don't know @ViewAhead, but where would I put them? :biggrin:
                         
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                        • Selleri

                          Selleri Koala

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                          In the mayor's garden of course. You can show them law that his/ her approval is not required. Then find another law granting you free passage to your property within the boundaries of another person.

                          Simple! :biggrin:

                          @shiney , looking very grand already :) Thanks for sharing the journey!
                           
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                          • shiney

                            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                            Another, very wet, week has passed and we managed to get some more work done on the greenhouse. When I have time I shall take some photos.
                             
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                            • simone_in_wiltshire

                              simone_in_wiltshire Total Gardener

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                              :rolleyespink:
                              Goodness me. How to make life unbearable.

                              Reminds me on a report 30 odd years ago. In Baveria, a man retired and colleagues give him a sheep as a present. He didn’t have really a purpose for it and so it served as a lawnmower.
                              On a quiet weekend, a man working for the tax office, past his garden and saw the sheep. On Monday, he checked the man’s file and found no sheep registered. He sent the man a tax note that he has to pay 400€ per anum for keeping an agricultural animal.
                              The man wasn’t willing to pay that and so the sheep lost his life.
                               
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                              • CanadianLori

                                CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                                I'm looking forward to updated pics. :)
                                 
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